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DIYHoliday

20 DIY Christmas Gifts That People Will Actually Love

by Amber King
written by Amber King

I am a huge fan of DIY Christmas gifts. My husband and I despise spending more than five minutes at a mall during the holiday shopping season, and I never want gift giving to feel like an obligation. I like giving gifts that are thoughtful and personal. Anyone can pass out gift cards, but it’s a true friend that puts time and effort into a truly special gift. 

But there’s a long-standing problem with DIY gifts—more than one, actually. First, they have a bad reputation. I know I’m guilty of giving out at least a few DIY duds (sorry, mom and dad).  They can also be frustratingly time consuming. And when we’re already busy with a hectic holiday season, no one has time to spend hours upon hours on everyone on their list.  So for this list, I had two criteria: gifts need to be high-quality and something people would actually want, and they also need to be reasonably easy to put together. 

I scoured the Internet and put together this list of my favorite DIY Christmas gifts. Check them out and get crafty!

Home Decor

1. Starbucks Candle

Do you have a friend that wouldn’t survive without their daily trip to Starbucks? You can fuel that obsession in a creative way with a DIY Starbucks candle. Candle making isn’t as hard as it seems, and when your friend is finished burning the candle, they have a cute Starbucks mug to use all year-round. 

Tutorial: Down Redbud Drive

2. Stovetop Citrus Potpourri

One of the best things about the holiday season is the smell. Candles are a popular gift this time of year, but stovetop potpourri is a great way to mix it up. This DIY Christmas gift idea combines everything you need for a fresh-smelling home into a reusable glass jar. Your gift recipients just need to put it on the stove and enjoy the fresh scent!

Tutorial: Sheri Silver

3. Photo Coasters

This DIY Christmas gift will be something your friends and family will cherish for years. You’ll need a few supplies like ceramic tiles and a bottle of mod podge. You’ll also need to print out high-quality photos. These photo coasters take a few days to dry, but they’re not hard to make.

Tutorial: Cardstore

4. Wine Cork Vase

You’ve been collecting those corks all year, and now it’s time to put them to good use! This DIY flower vase is the perfect gift for friends that also enjoy a good cup of wine. Give the gift with flowers already inside to make it even better.

Tutorial: Design Improvised

5. Upcycled Throw Pillow

You’ll need to have some skills for this one, but making throw pillows is actually easier than you’d think. Find fabric from old clothes or the bargain bin at the store. 

Tutorial: Organized 31

6. Knit Pot Holders

You don’t need to be an expert knitter to make these simple knitted pot holders. They’re great projects for beginner knitters, and you can pass them out like candy to everyone on your list. Try to coordinate colors with your friends’ kitchens to make the gift extra thoughtful. 

Tutorial: Homey Oh My

7. Fleece Blanket

I absolutely love a good DIY fleece blanket. There are at least three in my living room, and I’ve already made them for all my friends and family members. They take a little bit of time, but they’re not hard. And you can personalize each blanket with printed fabric. It’s a great gift for the men on your list that aren’t easy to shop for.

Tutorial: Cutesy Crafts

Self Care

8. Terrazzo Style Slice Soaps

DIY Christmas gifts

https://fallfordiy.com/blog/2017/02/28/a-new-obsession-diy-terrazzo-style-slice-soaps/

DIY soaps are always a good idea for gift giving. They encourage self care, and they look especially pretty when wrapped up in ribbon and bows. Instead of your normal bar of homemade soap, try out these cute and creative terrazzo style slice soaps. 

Tutorial: Fall for DIY

9. Pumpkin Spice Lip Scrub

Lip scrub is like chap stick, but it’s way better. It moisturizes lips and removes dry skin that always comes with dry winter weather. This sweet-smelling DIY Christmas gift makes a great stocking stuffer.

Tutorial: Club Crafted

10. Lavender Bath Salts

Who doesn’t enjoy a relaxing bath? Those baths are even better when they come with the therapeutic properties of these DIY bath salts. Give someone the gift of self care with these easy-to-make and always-thoughtful bath salts. You can even customize them for each person on your list. 

Tutorial: My Cultured Palate 

Edible

11. Hot Chocolate on a Stick

This idea is perfect for all the chocolate lovers of the world. These cute little chocolate pops magically turn into decadent hot chocolate when you stir them into a mug of warm milk. It’s a creative gift idea that you can make in bulk for neighbors and family members. 

Tutorial: Eating Richly

12. Homemade Ice Cream

We all scream for homemade ice cream! This recipe is easy to make (no turning involved), and the seasonal flavor is sure to be a hit. Package your pints in cute cartons and add some ribbon for good measure. You’ll have to transport your gift in a cooler so it won’t melt, but it’ll be worth it. 

Tutorial: Country Living

13. Healthy No Bake Granola Bars

Christmas gift giving usually involves a lot of cookies and candies, but what about the people on your list that are serious about health or struggling to stick to a diet? Gifting them a plate full of sugary sweets might not be appreciated. But what they will appreciate is a gift that’s both delicious and healthy. 

Tutorial: Happy Kitchen 

14. Candied Pecans

Baskets of cookies are the go-to gift for neighbors, teachers, and friends, but your gift can stand out by going in a nuttier direction. Candied pecans are sweet, festive, and easy to make. Make a big batch and give them out to everyone on your list. 

Tutorial: The Rising Spoon

15. Coffee Mixers

Coffee is always a good gift idea, and you can make that morning cup o’ Joe extra special with these DIY coffee mixers. Hit up your local thrift store for some cool-looking old spoons, and add chocolate, nuts, coconut, peppermint, and anything else you think will pair well with coffee. When you put the spoon in the coffee, the chocolate will melt to make a really delicious holiday treat. 

Tutorial: Tatyana’s Everyday Food

Everything Else

16. Hand-Painted Tote

It’s not the tote itself that makes this project a great DIY Christmas gift (unless of course you’re skilled with a sewing machine), but the design you pick can be customized for everyone on your list. It’s an especially great gift for your kids to make. They can give them to teachers, grandparents, family members, and whoever else would appreciate an environmentally friendly and super cute shopping tote bag. Buy blank tote bags and use fabric paint for the design.

Tutorial: Adventures of a DIY Mom

17. Leather Bookmark

Need a gift for a book lover but don’t know what’s currently on their “to-read” list? You could go with a gift card to Barnes and Noble, but that’s not exactly personal. So why not pair that gift card with a cute handmade leather bookmark? They’ll think of you every time they get into a good book.

Tutorial: Making Manzanita

18. Hand Warmers

Homemade hand warmers are a super simple yet thoughtful DIY Christmas gift. You only need basic sewing skills, a few scraps of fabric, and some rice. Package your handmade gift in a cute little bag with a personalized note to make it extra special.

Tutorial: The Typical Mom

19. Flannel Infinity Scarf

This cute scarf looks like an in-depth DIY project, but it only takes 15 minutes. It’s cute, cozy, and your friends in winter climates will appreciate the extra warmth. They’ll be impressed that you made it yourself–and you don’t need to tell them how easy it was. 

Tutorial: Swoodson Says

20. Embroidery Hoop Ornaments

These easy DIY Christmas gifts are an opportunity to stretch your sewing muscles. You don’t need to be a pro at embroidery to make these cute little ornaments. There are super simple designs that are perfect for beginners and even kids. 

Tutorial: Swoodson Says

What are your favorite DIY Christmas gifts? Let us know in the comments!

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CraftsDIY

15 Seriously Adorable And Inexpensive Fall Crafts For Kids

by Amber King
written by Amber King

Cool weather, leaf blowers, shorter days—it can only mean one thing. It’s time for fall crafting! Crafting is fun all year-round, but there’s something about this season that makes kids crafts so much cuter. There are so many cute themes and color schemes. Crafts are great for when kids are cooped up inside, and you don’t need a big budget to pull off some of the best fall projects. A lot of your materials (like leaves, for example) are completely free. 

We looked around and found the cutest inexpensive fall crafts for your tribe of littles to try out this season. Let’s get crafty!

1. Leaf Printed Autumn Banner

This fall kids’ craft is fun for all your littles, and it has the added benefit of being great fall decoration for your home. You’ll need paint, some twine, and cardstock, but you can probably find everything else lying around your house. Let your kids search the yard their favorite leaves and get creative with fall colors. You might need to help string it all together into a festive fall banner, but your kids will be proud to see their work draped over the fireplace or hanging against the wall.

Happiness is Homemade has the full instructions. 

2. Cup Spiders

Aren’t these creepy crawlies so cute?! Perfect for Halloween, this kids craft is easy enough for young kids but also interesting enough for more advanced crafters. You can make it more involved by letting kids paint their own cups with their favorite designs. This sample spider uses googly eyes, but if you don’t have any of those, you can use just about anything else in their place. Let your kids paint their own spider faces, use stickers, or cut out shapes with construction paper. The pipe cleaner legs are great because they’re flexible, and your kids can choose how they want their spiders to look.

You’ll find a full set of instructions with One Little Project.

3. Leaf Turkey

All you need for this cute fall craft is a yard (or park or sidewalk) full of leaves and some construction paper scraps. Let your kids scour the leaf pile for the brightest leaves they can find. Encourage them to find a few of each fall color, and if there are different shapes, that’s even better. After your outdoor expedition, you can head inside for some fun craft time. For young kids, put the turkey together ahead of time. But older kids are capable of building their own turkeys if you give them the pre-cut pieces. Let the leaves be the feathers and see how your kids imagine their festive fall turkeys. 

Crafty Morning has great samples to check out.

4. Paper Scarecrow

The best kids crafts are the ones you can hang up around the home to display with pride. These paper scarecrows can go on the fridge, the mantle, and pretty much anywhere that needs a little bit of festive decoration. Your kids can completely personalize their happy little scarecrows by using their favorite colors and even different types of “hair.” If your kids are okay with scissors, let them cut out their own hats and facial features. If that’s a bit beyond their skills, they’ll still have fun attaching pre-cut pieces to their accordion-style faces.

Meaningful Mama did it, and it was a big hit.

5. Fall Leaf Potato Stamping

You can never go wrong with a classic potato stamp. It takes only a few minutes to set up, and you can let even the littlest artists go to town without too much assistance on your end. Try to pick out potatoes that are long and skinny to get a good leaf shape and give little hands something to hold on to. You can draw a tree and let your kids add the leaves, or simply let them cover a page with their pretty multi-colored stamps. Don’t forget to hang them up to show off their good work!

How Wee Learn has a quick tutorial for potato stamping newbies. 

6. Leaf Printing

Here’s another fall kids’ craft you can set up in a matter of minutes. Leaf rubbings are easy to do, and there’s even the opportunity to teach kids about the structure of leaves and all the different shapes and sizes. Half the fun will be getting outside to find leaves from different kinds of trees. If you don’t have a yard with trees, take a trip to the park or a public green space. The more leaves, the better! 

Learn more about leaf rubbing with First Palette.

7. Q-Tip Fall Trees

You only need three things for this fun fall craft: paper, paint, and a few q-tips. If your kids are little, paint them a quick tree trunk with a couple of sparse branches. If they’re older, they can probably handle that part on their own. The fun part of this craft is decorating those branches. The q-tips make great paint brushes to put down delicate little dots in different colors. If you want, sketch out a simple shape and have your kids fill in the shape with their painted leaf dots.

This teacher’s blog has some great examples. 

8. Marbled Leaves

You’ll want to lay down a few layers of newspaper or some other kind of protective covering before starting this painting craft, but to be honest, the mess is half the fun! Marbled leaves look so pretty, and the paint mixture is always fun to work with. You can cut out your own leaves from paper, or go outside and get the real things. You can make this craft as simple or as detailed as you want.

Learn the art of marbling with Typically Simple.

9. Fall Yarn Wrapping

If you’re looking for quick, no-mess fall craft for your littlest kiddos, this is it. Yarn wrapping is perfect for helping kids develop fine motor skills. Gather up your odds and ends of old yarn and cut out a few fall-themed shapes. Encourage kids to wrap the yarn in all different directions and use multiple colors if you can. The finished products end up looking pretty cute, and you could even turn them into magnets or bookmarks.

See how Paper And Glue did this fall craft here.

10. Handprint Spiders in Webs

This is one of my favorite fall-themed kids’ crafts. It’s great because it’s interesting for the kids to put together, it ends up looking super cute, and you don’t need a lot of supplies to make it happen. A big pair of googly eyes is always a good idea, but if you don’t have extra eyes floating around your craft closet, you can make your own out of cardboard paper or paint. To prepare the craft, all you have to do is punch some holes in the edges of a paper plate. The kids can get creative with the rest.

Check out these cute spiders with Mom Endeavors.

11. Paint Chip Monsters

Kids of all ages will have fun creating their own monsters with this simple craft idea. The best part is, it’s basically free to put together! Visit any home improvement store and pick as many paint chip samples as you’ll need. Think of green for Frankenstein, orange for pumpkins, purple for witches, and whatever other color strikes your interest. You’ll need to put a little work into cutting out different facial features before you let your kids get to building, but it’s all basic shapes. Older kids could even help with the cutting.

Liz on Call did this craft, and they turned out super cute!

12. Paper Bag Owls

If you have paper bags, there are literally countless different crafts you can do. It’s one of the most versatile crafting materials out there! A good one for fall is the paper bag owl. It’s a simple process of attaching eyes, wings, a beak, and whatever other feathery features your kids can think of. And when you’re done, you have a great little puppet for even more play time. 

See the art of paper bag crafting with Buggy and Buddy.

13. Sticky Fall Tree

Give your kids the opportunity to decorate the walls for fall with this super engaging craft. You’ll need a large sheet of contact paper, an old cereal box (or any other kind of thin cardboard or construction paper), and some fall-colored tissue paper. Kids will have fun decorating their barren trees with all the beautiful colors of fall, and you can leave up their creation for as long as it sticks. 

How Wee Learn talks about how to set it up.

14. Autumn Tree

There are so many fall crafts for kids that you can do with leaves. This simple tree craft doesn’t take too long, and there are hardly any supplies to gather or mess to clean up. You can use paint for your tree trunks, or make it simpler by using markers, crayons, or construction paper. Your kids can go forage for their favorite leaves and then glue them to their trees to celebrate the beauty of fall. The finished creations are perfect for fall decorations!

Crafts on Sea explains more about how to do this fun craft. 

15. Paper Roll Scarecrow

There’s nothing scary about these scarecrows—they’re actually really cute! Toilet paper and paper towel rolls are great for crafting, so you should get in the habit of saving them up. They’re free, and there’s so much you can do with them. For this scarecrow craft, you can use markers, paint, yarn, straw, or anything else you already have in the house. You’ll barely have to dip into your craft budget, and it’s a good way to use up material odds and ends. 

Make it up as you go or get inspiration from Still Playing School.

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home repair
DesignDIYHome

5 Things You Should Never DIY At Your Home

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

When the winter passes and the weather gets warmer, we start craving some changes. Whether it’s a hairstyle or a colour of the walls in our living room, spring brings the need for something fresh. You may also be thinking about tackling some new DIY projects around the house. Talking about home repairs, you basically have two options – to do or not to do them yourself. As much as the Internet tutorials make these projects easy to handle, sometimes it’s best to hire professional help.

It may seem like a waste of money, but when dealing with electricity, plumbing, removing walls, furnace repair, or waterproofing issues, it is better to play it safe. Here are some of the things that you may want to leave to the professionals. 

1. Stay Away from Electrical Work

Even though installing new lighting may seem like a piece of cake, steer clear of any project that involves electricity. Getting shocked is just one of the many things that can go wrong. Even if you know how to turn off the live power, there’s a possibility that you’ll wire something incorrectly.

home repair

That can lead to overloading your power draw which can cause popping breakers or sparking outlets. There are many serious consequences of amateurs handling electrical wires. The safety of your family should be imperative. For that reason, everything more complex than changing a light bulb is a job for an electrician.

2. Don’t Fix Your Appliances Yourself

Whether you’ve just bought a new dishwasher and you’re eager to install it ASAP, or you need to move the oven to paint the walls, it’s something that you definitely want to leave to the professionals. No matter how experienced do-it-yourselfer you are, dealing with gas or water is something you don’t want to mess around with.

home repair

Having that said, the best solution is to hire some local appliance repair company to do the job. A skilled team of professionals will bring all the necessary tools for the job. They can help you with both the installation and repairs of almost every appliance in your home. If you can stay away from the complexities that these tasks involve, gladly do so.

3. Say No to DIY Roofing

Speaking of risky DIY projects, roofing is definitely on the top of the list. The risk of falling down is just one of the reasons why you should leave this job for professionals. They are far more experienced than you in working on a great height at an awkward angle. Although crucial, it’s not only a matter of safety risks. If you decide to do the roofing yourself, there’s a great chance you’ll end up with loads of unused materials.

home repair

When the job is done, your roof may seem spotless, but will it stay that way when the winds pick up? Your insurance company probably won’t cover the damage, spare yourself the stress and hire professionals to do the job.

4. Moulding is not a DIY Project

As much as it looks like a pure decoration, moulding requires some serious skills. It’s like couture, if it doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s a disaster. In order to reach that goal, you need perfectly straight walls. It may come as a surprise that no walls are like that, not even in new houses. One of the reasons you should leave this to the professionals is because they have the right tools.

home repair

What’s more, they have more experience when it comes to finding the right solution to the shape of your walls. They’ll make sure your mouldings are properly aligned and also pay attention to all the necessary details. It may look tempting, but it’s not a job for amateurs.

5. Don’t Do the Demolition Yourself

Home improvements often involve tearing down the walls. Demolishing and rebuilding may seem far from a complicated process. It can even seem like a fun thing to do until you swing the sledgehammer and hit something you shouldn’t like the support wall or electrical wires. Repairing the damage would be more expensive than hiring the contractors.

home repair

Money isn’t the only problem. These reparations take time so they will delay the whole rebuilding project. In order to avoid damaging any of the vital parts of your home, it’s best to leave demolition projects to a contractor.

In the sea of YouTube channels and Pinteresting ideas, it’s easy to get carried away with house-repair projects. People in the videos giving step-by-step tutorials make it look ridiculously easy. Decorating your picture frames or repainting the shelves can be a super fun activity for the whole family. However, there are tasks that are too dangerous to handle.

Those usually involve water, gas, and electricity. Hiring professionals may seem like a splurge, but in the long run, it will save you not only time and effort but will also make sure your home is safe. After all, that should be the most important thing on your list of priorities.

About the Author

Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.

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DIY mosquito repellent
DIYTips & Ideas

4 Ideas For DIY Mosquito Repellent To Get You Through The Summer

by Amber King
written by Amber King

Days at the lake, bonfires, camping trips, hiking—you and your kids aren’t the only ones excited for summer. Those fun outdoor moments can be ruined by a few hundred small—but seriously annoying—uninvited guests. That’s right, we’re talking about mosquitoes. No matter how well you pack your picnic or how refreshing that cool lake water looks, tiny blood suckers will always ruin your fun. No one wants to spend the whole day swatting and itching, but store-bought mosquito sprays aren’t for everyone. They’re made with potentially harmful chemicals that a holistic-minded mama like yourself would rather avoid. 

These DIY mosquito sprays are great for families interested in living a more natural and less chemical-dependent lifestyle. There’s no DEET or any other chemicals that could potentially harm your children or the environment. With these recipes, you know exactly what you’re spraying, and you can make your DIY spray as potent as you want. As an added benefit, DIY mosquito repellent is usually cheaper than the stuff you buy in the store. 

Here are our favorite DIY mosquito repellent recipes for you to try out.

Essential Oil Mosquito Spray

DIY mosquito repellent

This easy-to-mix mosquito spray comes to us from the holistic harbingers over at Wellness Mama. If you’re already a fan of essential oils, you probably have these ingredients somewhere in your house. Even if you don’t, essential oils are a relatively inexpensive investment once you realize how many uses they really have. This particular recipe is especially potent, and it should give you and your family a nice respite from misquotes no matter where you are. Because it’s so powerful, however, Wellness Mama recommends spraying the mix on your clothes and other gear instead of putting it directly on your skin–especially for little children. 

This DIY mosquito spray recipe uses several essential oils known for their pest control properties. Citronella, clove, rosemary, lavender—they’re all accounted for. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients:

  • 30 drops geranium essential oil
  • 30 drops citronella essential oil
  • 20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops rosemary essential oil
  • 1 TBSP vodka or rubbing alcohol
  • ½ cup natural witch hazel
  • ½ cup water (or vinegar)
  • 1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place essential oils in a glass spray bottle. Add vodka or alcohol and shake well to combine.
  2. Pour in witch hazel and shake to combine.
  3. Add ½ tsp vegetable glycerin if using. This is not necessary but helps everything stay combined.
  4. Add water and shake again. Shake before each use as the oils and water will naturally separate over time.

Lavender and Vanilla Mosquito Repellent

DIY Mosquito repellent

Lavender is one of the strongest natural allies you have in your fight against mosquitoes. It’s perfect for repelling bugs, because while people love the smell, tiny bloodsuckers hate it. Lavender has been used to repel mosquitoes long before store-bought bug sprays even existed. Simply planting lavender in your yard will help keep bugs away from your house, and you can also use it to make a seriously effective DIY mosquito repellent. This recipe from Wide Open Eats uses lavender, vanilla, and lemon for a spray you can apply to your skin and clothes.

Ingredients:

  • 15 drops lavender essential oil
  • 3-4 tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 3-4 tbsp. lemon juice
  • Distilled water

Instructions:

  1. Combine lavender, vanilla, and lemon in a small spray bottle. 
  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
  3. Shake before spraying.

Coconut Oil Balm

DIY mosquito repellent

There’s more to repelling mosquitoes than spray. If you’re not into spritzing your skin, or if you have a Costco-sized tub of coconut oil and nothing to do with it, you can try out this anti-mosquito balm. It has the added bonus of making a great moisturizer, and rubbing a finger-full onto your skin will give you a force field no blood-sucking insect will want to cross. Better Homes & Gardens has the recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 5 drops peppermint oil
  • 4 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions:

  1. Add the ingredients to a jar and stir together until smooth.
  2. When the mixture is the consistency of a hand or lip salve, you’re done. Apply the balm directly to your skin to deter mosquitoes.

Tea Tree Mosquito Repellent

DIY mosquito repellent

For our last DIY mosquito repellent, we’re going back to essential oils. Tea tree and geranium are two essential oils that are tough on pests. They smell great to us, but they keep bugs, especially the biting kind, at bay. This recipe from Scratch Mommy also has another ingredient on the list. Vegetable glycerin is often used to bind essential oils to whatever you spray them on. This recipe isn’t as involved as the first essential oil spray on this list, and it’ll take you only seconds to mix up. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients:

  • 30 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 10 drops geranium essential oil
  • 1 T vegetable glycerin
  • Distilled water

Instructions:

  1. Combine the two essential oils and the vegetable glycerin in a small glass bottle.
  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
  3. Shake well and apply directly to skin as needed.

These DIY mosquito repellents are great for long summer nights and warm summer days. Why not try them all and let us know which one you like best?

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DIY farmhouse decor
DIYHomeTips & Ideas

10 Perfectly Rustic DIY Farmhouse Decor Ideas

by Amber King
written by Amber King

From sitting on the porch listening to crickets in the fields to roaming free in wide open spaces, there’s a lot to love about country living. It’s a simple life spent with family and friends, and it’s no surprise the lifestyle has inspired a popular trend in home design. The farmhouse style is all about the rustic and comfortable. It’s bright spaces and repurposed materials with a whole lot of country charm and small town appeal. 

The best part is, you don’t need to live on a 50-acre horse farm to have farmhouse decor work in your home. You also don’t need a huge budget. A big part of the farmhouse style is knowing how to repurpose and recycle items to give them new life. You could go to an expensive home decor store and spend big money on new home decorations, or you can get a little dirty and try out these great DIY ideas. We’ve picked out our favorite DIY farmhouse decor projects that are easy to assemble and will make your house look like the perfect country farmhouse.

1. Rustic Wood Frame

We’re starting off the list easy with this farmhouse-friendly rustic wood frame. This piece of farmhouse decor is great because of its versatility. You can use it as a message board in the kitchen or dress it up and move it into a hallway or living room. 

You’ll need only basic woodworking skills to create this DIY frame, and then you can get creative when it comes to the color of your paint and what you want to use it for. You’ll find the easy-to-follow tutorial with Knick of Time

2. Pallet Coffee Cup Holder

This cute coffee cup rack is made from a wooden pallet you can find for free or dirt cheap at certain stores. Try asking your local hardware or garden store if they have any small pallets they’re willing to get rid of. A lot of stores end up trashing old pallets anyway, and they’re happy to let DIY homeowners dig through their trash. Even if the pallet you find is less than perfect, a little bit of damage will only add to the charm. 

We love this project because it’s so simple you can knock it out in only an hour. All you need is a pallet, some paint, and a few hooks. It’ll look perfect in your farmhouse kitchen, and it’ll keep your coffee cups from crowding your cabinets. Check out the tutorial on how to make it with One Little Bird Blog.

3. Rustic Crate Centerpiece

No farmhouse table is complete without a rustic centerpiece. This simple crate centerpiece allows you freedom to dress up your table for any season or holiday. You can fill it with flowers, candles, or anything else your creative mind can think of.

This project is also a good one for when you have scrap pieces of wood left over from a bigger project. It doesn’t take much to make this farmhouse style box, but it’ll make all the difference for your tablescape. You could even use it in the bathroom to organize toiletries or in a nursery to hold essential supplies–like diapers. Learn how to make it with French Country Cottage.

4. Wood Beam with Lace Curtain

This simple addition will turn any boring bedroom into a beautiful farmhouse escape. It might look complicated with that wood beam attached to the ceiling, but this piece of farmhouse decor is the type of project you can finish in one afternoon. 

The key to making the most of this idea is to use the right kind of materials. To follow true farmhouse fashion, look for recycled barn wood and vintage-looking lace. It might work best in an area with an alcove ceiling, but you can make this look work in almost any space. Love Grows Wild has all the details.

5. Scrap Wood Wall

This scrap wood wall is a little more involved compared to the simpler projects on this list, but with the right tools, it’s not as hard as it looks. DIY blogger Pretty Handy Girl used this idea to add interest to her bonus room/art studio. It’s the type of feature wall that is great in farmhouses and can be used to display artwork and other decor items.

To make a true scrap wall, go through your workshop for salvageable pieces of wood, and you can even ask friends and family to donate whatever scrap pieces they have lying around. There’s also the option of deconstructing a few wooden pallets. If you absolutely need to buy new wood planks, that’s fine too, because Pretty Handy Girl also has a tutorial on how to make new wood look old.

6. Farmhouse Message Board

This DIY farmhouse decor project serves the duel purpose of looking good in your home and keeping your family and household organized. Message boards are great for those busy days when you’re racing between dance rehearsals and soccer practice while trying to keep everyone fed without losing your sanity. You can have a stack of random sticky notes, or you can make your household’s communication station blend in with the rest of your farmhouse decor.

This farmhouse style message board is easy to make and will do wonders to keep your family organized. Deb from Seeking Lavender Lane used old pallet wood and chicken wire for this project. You can complete the look by finding neat vintage clips in a color that match the rest of the room’s design. Find out how to make it here.

7. Rustic Ladder Shelf

Farmhouse style decor is all about getting creative and giving old useful objects new jobs to do. This step ladder turned shelf/side table is a perfect example. You can use it in your living room to display other decorations or pictures, or it would also fit in your bedroom as a handy bedside table. 

For this project, it would be ideal if you already have an old step ladder taking up space in your garage. But if you don’t, they’re not hard to find. Keep your eyes peeled the next time you hit up a thrift store, auction, or yard sale. These things are out there, you just need to find them. And once you find the perfect ladder, all you have to do is turn the steps into shelves. Funky Junk will show you how to do it. 

8. Sliding Barn Door

Can you really call your home a farmhouse if you don’t have at least one of these sliding barn doors? They’re the epitome of farmhouse decor, and they’re a lot easier to install than you think. The best barn doors are made from old barn wood, but don’t let a lack of recycled wood planks hold you back. 

In this online tutorial, Rachel from Shades of Blue Interiors uses an old door she found on Craigslist. She sanded it down and painted to get the perfect rustic look. Her DIY sliding barn door closes off her master bathroom, but you can put yours anywhere in your house. They’re especially great for home offices and media rooms.

9. Entryway Coat Hanger

No matter how big your family is or where you live, we all share one simple problem. Entryways inevitably turn into cluttered drop zones where people shed jackets, shoes, backpacks, and whatever else they can’t bother to carry with them. You can deal with the mess, or you can craft a solution that also fits in with the rest of your farmhouse decor.

If you’re ambitious (and good with a band saw) you can make this rustic entryway coat hanger from scratch. For an easier route, you can fashion it out of something like an old barn door. This project is great because you have freedom to design everything how you want. Pick a color that you like and add as many hooks, shelves, or even cubbies as you like. Check out Liz Marie Blog for the tutorial. 

10. Paint Can Flower Holder

In true DIY farmhouse fashion, this little project is a great way to use up the “junk” you have leftover from a major remodel or painting spree. And depending on what you have to work with, it could be as easy as hanging a cast iron hook and buying some flowers. 

Even if you don’t have any cool antique-looking paint cans, that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard to find. Hit up your local antique store or even ask a hardware store what they have in terms of used paint cans. And if worst comes to worst, you can always buy them online. Knick of Time came up with the idea; check out their site for more inspiration. 

Featured image via Shades of Blue Interiors and Love Grows Wild

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spring crafts
CraftsDIYHoliday

12 Spring Crafts You Need To Make Right Now

by Mary Mulroney
written by Mary Mulroney

Spring and Easter will soon be here and you know what that means: craft time! It’s time to break out those craft boxes, head to the craft stores, and start making all the adorable Spring and Easter decorations you can. I can’t let a holiday pass me by without making something for my home. I am, however, a little obsessed with decorating and crafting so maybe I’m the only one that feels this way. If, by some shadow of a doubt, I’m not, check out these adorable spring crafts that you’ll love. I’ll probably see you at the craft store later buying all the supplies.

spring crafts

Source: Debbie-DebbieDoos.com

1. Spring Burlap Art

A piece of burlap, a stencil and some fabric paint is all you need to whip up this adorable and handmade piece of art this spring. The rustic look is perfect for your farmhouse or vintage style, and you can even use a frame you already own!

Find the easy tutorial at Debbie-DebbieDoos.com.

spring crafts

Source: ACultivatedNest.com

2. Button Art

This sweet craft is a perfect afternoon activity to do with your little ones, or for a solitary activity! The spring-colored buttons are overlapped and glued into an egg shape, atop a neutral background yardstick. Frame and enjoy!

We found this adorable idea at ACultivatedNest.com.

spring crafts

Source: YesterdayOnTuesday.com

3. Robin’s Egg Speckled Vase

Gorgeous robin’s egg blue is nearly synonymous with Spring! These mason jars have been transformed with the help of chalk paint and some strategic speckling, then wrapped in jute twin to give it that perfect post-winter feel. Fill with babies breath and enjoy!

See how simple this craft is at YesterdayOnTuesday.com.

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DIYHoliday

10 Of The Cutest DIY Rustic Christmas Ornaments

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

There’s something about the holidays that make me feel extra crafty. I just want to whip out all the ribbon, glitter and hot glue I can find and go to town making wreaths, ornaments and the like. I’m looking forward to making some new ornaments for my tree, especially with my daughter. I love the rustic style for ornaments because they make me dream of winter wonderlands, chestnuts and all the other iconic image of the holidays. Keep reading to see some of the cutest DIY rustic Christmas ornaments I could find!

diy rustic ornaments

Source: LilBlueBoo.com

1. Rustic Jingle Bells

Can you ever have enough jingle bells when it comes to the holidays? We think not! These gorgeous beauties actually started out as shiny and new, and without the use of chemicals were turned into galvanized bells perfect for your farmhouse style.

Check out how easy these are to make at LilBlueBoo.com.

diy rustic ornaments

Source: LovelyEtc.com

2. Mini Mason Jar Ornament

Rustic and mason jar go hand in hand! And would you believe this adorable ornament actually started out as a baby food jar? That’s right! Careful crafting turned it into a clone of the real Ball mason jars you probably already use all over the house. Who’s make these today!?

Grab the whole tutorial at LovelyEtc.com.

diy rustic ornaments

Source: LoveCreateCelebrate.com

3. Jute String Mini Wreaths

Hello adorable jute ornaments! Tiny styrofoam wreaths are wrapped in jute string, then adorned with handmade flowers, perfectly tied bows and teeny bells. Adorbs!

Head to LoveCreateCelebrate.com for all the details!

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christmas card topiary
CraftsDIYHoliday

DIY Upcycled Christmas Card Topiary

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

When it comes to the holidays, there are so many things to look forward to: the food, music, decorations and of course– all the Christmas crafts! This festive time of year calls for all types of DIY projects and many times, you don’t need to take a $100 trip to the craft store to whip up a memorable craft.

This year, I decided to be more resourceful and put supplies that I already have to good use. While not everyone may have tons of craft accessories laying around, most of us do have a few year’s worth of Christmas cards at our disposal.

Instead of keeping piles of cards you’ll probably never look at again, why not make them into something useful? This year, try an Upcycled Christmas Card Topiary from Shutterfly Christmas Cards.

christmas card topiary

Make sure you head over to Shutterfly to see my full tutorial on how to put your old holiday cards to good use, by crafting your own upcycled topiary!

 

Many thanks to Shutterfly for the amazing opportunity to work with them on this project.

 

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DesignDIYHoliday

6 DIY Eucalyptus Wreaths For The Holidays

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

Who doesn’t love a little greenery when it comes to your holiday decor? This year, up your design game by whipping up a fresh wreath to welcome family and friends. These DIY eucalyptus wreaths are beautiful, simple and pack a lot of detail.

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: MaisonDePax

1. Faux Silver Drop Eucalyptus Wreath

This bright and lush looking wreath is a great way to enjoy eucalyptus for years to come! While nobody can deny the fragrance of real eucalyptus, making a faux version is much more friendly on the wallet. This particular wreath uses a grapevine wreath as the backing, and two different sizes of silver drop eucalyptus springs bought from a craft store. Just clip and insert! This would actually be a wonderful wreath to use year round, especially if you love the farmhouse style.

Get the full tutorial at MaisonDePax.

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: KeysToInspiration.com

2. Live Eucalyptus Wreath

Bust out your trusty grapevine wreath form again because you’ll need it for this lush and live wreath. During the latter half of the year, it’s not uncommon to find tons of fresh eucalyptus bunches at your local grocery store like the seeded and silver dollar variety. Simply snip and insert in the wreath form for a fragrant and welcoming entrance to your home. It may not last until next year, but isn’t it gorgeous?

Check out KeysToInspiration.com for the easy step by step instructions!

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: ABubblyLife.com

3. Live Eucalyptus Hoop Wreath

Company coming over? Not a crafty person? Don’t want to spend a lot of money? Check, check and check! This simple DIY hoop wreath only takes some fresh eucalyptus leaves and an embroidery hoop! Wind the leaves around the hoop form and hang––it couldn’t be easier.

See how easy it is at ABubblyLife.com.

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: Food52.com

4. Half Olive & Eucalyptus Wreath

We love everything about this simple and elegant half wreath. Fresh eucalyptus leaves are intermixed with olive leaves on a basic wire hoop. This would be a wonder addition to your interior decor, like in a holiday vignette or pretty much any blank space!

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: SandraAndRuben.com

5. Simple Silver Dollar Wreath

This modern feeling wreath is simply gorgeous, using real silver dollar eucalyptus leaves and floral wire. Shape the wire into your desired form and weave the leaves around. Voila! It couldn’t be easier or more pretty.

Head to SandraAndRuben.com for the details.

eucalyptus wreaths

Source: TheMerryThought.com

6. Minimal Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Wreath

Sometimes less is more, and that’s especially true with this gorgeous DIY eucalyptus wreath. You can use real or faux leaves, the effect is still the same––a festive and high-design piece of decor.

Check out the DIY project at TheMerryThought.com.

 

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DIYHoliday

12 Creative DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards

by Jordyn Smith
written by Jordyn Smith

Whether your Thanksgiving feast is a formal affair or as casual as they come, getting your dining table ready is one of the most exciting things about preparing for the holiday. Your centerpiece, place mats, even down to the cutlery you decide to use all contribute greatly to your Thanksgiving table. No matter the vibe of your holiday feast, incorporating personalized place cards is a fun way to spice things up a bit. Let these amazing DIY’s inspire you!

06729c0313d98747661fc1467a56ea4d

Source: spoonforkbacon.com

1. DIY Rosemary Wreath Place Cards

This DIY project is simple enough, fresh stems of Rosemary are clipped and folded into little wreaths, bound together with floral wire, then attached to personalized name tags. This project is simple enough to be created in a couple hours but cool enough to completely transform your table.

Find tons of healthy, all-natural recipes and great DIY’s at Spoon Fork Bacon.

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Source: jacquelynclark.com

2. DIY Gold Dipped Leaf Place Cards

Holiday DIY projects don’t get any more simple than these gold dipped leaves. A simple collection of real dried leaves are partially covered in gold leaf paper then personalized with hand-painted names. The project is beautifully simple and as elegant as they come.

Head over to Lark & Linen to find more elegant DIY projects, design inspiration, and more!

diy-marble-hexagon-place-cards-6

Source: sugarandcloth.com

3. DIY Carrara Marble Place Cards

These marble place cards may look intricate and expensive, but they’re both incredibly simple and created for under $8. Carrara marble hexagon tiles are topped with gold letter stickers to create these gorgeous place cards slash souvenirs.

Find even more cool, creative crafting ideas at Sugar & Cloth.

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